Flexible pocket receptacle



Oct. 11, 1949. D. J. BROUGHTON 2,484,682

FLEXIBLE POCKET RECEPTACLE Filed Aug. 9, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TORJam .14: JfikW/Gl/IW Oct. 11, 1949. D. .1. BROUGHTON FLEXIBLE POCKETRECEPTACLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 9, 1945 INVENTOR M w w. m OIVR Ro w I A m M 0Y In.

Oct. 11, 1949.

Filed Aug. 9, 1945 D- J. BROUGHTON FLEXIBLE POCKET RECEPTACLE 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Joya/m J'fiwmarm BY 9L ATTOR EYS Oct. 11, 1949.J BROUGHTON 2,484,682

FLEXIBLE POCKET RECEPTACLE Filed Aug. 9, 1945 4 Shets -Sheet 4 INVENTORv Jo a/w Jfiidaawrow BY #2241;

' ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 11, 1949 2,4&4,682

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Douglas J. Broughton,

. to Buxton,

Springfield, Mass, assignor Incorporated, Springfield, Mass., a

corporation of Massachusetts Application August 9, 1945, Serial No.609,817 l '1 Claims. (Cl. 150-30) This invention relates to animprovement in the construction of billfolds formed of leather or otherflexible materials.

Such billfolds customarily comprise front and rear walls variouslyconnected along their bottom and end edges to provide a bill{compartment open along its upper. edge; The end sections of thebillfold are foldable one on, the, other about a substantially centralline offold. One or both end sections of the front wall are customarilyprovided with auxiliary pockets'opening toward the fold line for thereceptionpf cards and the like. Since the inner wall tends to'jbuckle atthe line of fold when the endsections of the. billfold arefoldedtogether it is desirable to construct the front wall to permit a limitedlengthwise expansion and contraction. One customary and desirable way ofproviding such expansion and contraction is to include as one element ofthe front Wall an intermediate wall, member at least one end .of whichis telescopically slidable in the members making up the end sectionsgofthe front wall. When the bill compartment of thegbillfold, or.

the auxiliary pockets, or both, are filled to, or approximating, theircapacity there is a tendency to bind the intermediate wallv memberthereby preventing or interfering with its freedom of sliding movementwith respect to the other members of the front wall. This isparticularly true with respect to the stuflingof the auxiliary pockets,which has for some time-been a growing habit of billfold users. a 1

The principal objec of'myinvention isto overcome these difficulties andat the same time increase the capacity ,of the :billfold particularlywith respect to the auxiliary pockets. This object is accomplished by aparticular inclusion and arrangement of gusset :members in theconstruction of the billfold. I am of course aware that gussets havebeen variously applied topockets generally" to increase their capacityand that attempts'have been made to apply'them for increased capacity tobillfold pockets, but as far as I am aware such attempts have tended toincrease the difliculties mentioned and I know of noprevious suggestionthat gussets could be used in .a manner to overcome these difficultiesor of any gusset arrangement which secured that effect.

The application of gussetsto billfold pockets having in View merely anincrease in pocket capacity have heretofore proved unsatisfactory as apractical matter. I believe one reasonfor this failure to be that whengussets are applied in the conventional manner the result is to stiffenand tighten the whole'structure whereas acertain t degree of loosenessand flexibility permitting self adjustments between the several parts ofthe billfold are essential if the billfold is to function properly. a I

It is therefore a further object and advantage of my invention toprovide a gusset construction for billfold pockets which will functionto increase the pocket, capacity per se, at the same time that increasedfreedom ,is aiforded the intermediate wall member.

Other and further objects and advantages residing in the details of theconstruction will be made apparent in the following specification andclaims. 1

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. '1- shows the form of a blank from which the body of a billfoldembodying my invention may be constructed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the intermediate Wall member which with theelements of the blank shown in Fig. 1 complete-the members of a billfoldembodying my invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views on a larger scale'showing certain ofthe folding and assembling 'steps in constructing thebillfold from theparts shown in Figs. 1 and.2;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view, on the scale of'Fig. 1, showing thecompleted billfold, parts being broken away;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, generally perspective View of the billfold ofFig. 5 on a larger scale;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the bill compartmentgusset omitted;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view ofa blank similar to Fig. 1 but showing amodified arrangement;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary generally perspective view, on a larger scale,partsbeing broken away, showing the arrangement of the parts in thebillfold made up from the blank of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of a blank similar to Fig. 8 but showing afurther modification;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary generally perspective View, on 'a larger scale,parts being broken away, showing the arrangement of'the parts in thebillfold made up from the blank of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view substantially on the line |2I2 of Fig. 11;

Figs; 13 to 17 inclusive showthe several of the elements of a billfoldembodying my invention formed as separate pieces arranged for blindstitching;

Figs. 18 and 19 are'fragmentary generally per spective views, on alarger scale, showing steps in the construction of a. billfold using theblanks shown in Figs. 13 to 17; and

Fig. 20 is a sectional View substantially on line 20-40 of Fig. 19-butshowing the elements in completed position. a,

It will be understood that'the drawings are not to scale and that therelative thickness of the material has been exaggerated in the interestof clearness. 1

.Inthe illustrative embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and the other figures thebillfold includes a .rearwall I, spaced panel. members 2, flap members3, and closure members 4, and an intermediate wall member 5 (Fig. 2). Asshown the billfold preferablyg'ifidli ides part i'tioh members .6 whichcarry closure caper.

Each panel member 2 is connected to the lower or bottom edge of the rearwall by a gusset member 8 comprising inner and outerelements 9 and it.Flap member 3 is connected tetheepposite edge (in the finished'bill'fql'd i'sfth e upper edge) of its panel 2 by a gi'isst I'l c'dinprising inner and outer elements I2 and I3 respectively. As shown inFig. 1-, for .example,;end closure members 4 are connected to the endsof rear wall I by gussets I 4, comprising inner and outer elements I5and I6."

. For reasons later discussed in connection with Fig. 6; the gussetsim-me i'riin anyw case's beo'mitted without substantial detriment toachieving certain objects of the invention.

The partition member 6 is connected,.integrally in Fig. 1, .directlytothe outer 'end'e'dge of panel Preferably. the upper aarfd lower .edgesof the rear wall I are provided with tabs I1 and IB -respectively whichare folded over and cemented or otherwise secured to the. rear wall; tofinish the exposed edges of the' wall, ina well known man'- ner.

The flaps a3.are each provided at their outer ends with lock tabs I 9adapted to engage,- as later described, in"slots 20: formediin panels 2.The end members 4 are each provided with lock tabs ZI .engageable. in-slotszi22 .:al"so formed in "the panels 2. Flaps 3.=are fdrme'd. with:slots '23 in which tabs .24,rermea onith'e upper ed'geof inte'rmediatewall member Y5 "(Fig 2) 'a'reien'gaged all as later described,

.As shown .the .billfold is symmetrical and a description of the foldingand assembly of one end will serve to describe. both, it being.understood that the folding and assembly 'of bhthiend's' willpreferably 'proc'eeditoge'ther.

Referring toFig.... 3, the partition member 6 is shown folded over. onthe adjacent "panel 7 2 and the gussets 8 and II;'are'folde'd onto'p bfthe-partition member. Astalso 'showniini said figure the gussetiisfolded :ontothe, rear. wall I.

The panel I 2 .is then folded :onto the rear wall as shown inFig.4,.th'e intermediatewall member E'being placed'between't'he gussets8-II.an'd the rear wallwith its .lower edge .en'gagdin the bight betweenthe;:inner igusset. element 59 .and wall I. Flap f3. isthentfoldeddownwardly between wall and-:theiin-tennediate wall m'emb'er'i with theupper. ed'geiiof jthe-intermediate member engaging in the big-ht Ibetween the inner gusset element I2 and flap 3. The tabs-J24 on thememher 5 are insertedi'tl'n'oiigh'slots =23. (as-shown in Figs. 6 and 9)andt'the; lock talas'illil; seeFig. 4, are

folded over on ,panel Zcan'd, inserted in slots 20.

The end members 4 are then folded over onto panel 2 and'lock'tabs .221engage .inslo'ts 22"t'o complete the-Lsettingxup of the lbillfOld as'shownin Fig. 5, which shows both ends .of the billfold completed. Itwill be understoodfthat en other suitable means for connecting the endsof the rear wall to'the'panelmernb'ers may'ibe'empl'oyed in place of theend members 4 an'dlock tabs 2'I.

"Any suitable means may be employe'd'forholding the closure 'flaps Iclosed, that shown "comprising tongues 25 ferigaigeable in SIotS-ZBwhich are provided with entrance pieces 21 inaccuraance with the'disclosi'ire (if Buxto'n Patent 2,318,750.

A's best'shown in'Fig' 'fi the-structure userited and panel member 2,which pocket is expansible at thetop and bottom by reason of gussets 8and II which extend into the pocket. Restricting pressure ofcards,"or-the like, which may be "la edin space :29, against theintermediate wall member tis' relieved by the gussets a and II.

" The outer enfd of pocket 29 is closed by the lock member I 9 but sincethe intermediate member dosfiiot extend to the end of the billfold thebinding action on the intermediate member is not ordinarily substantialatthat "point, In practice it "has been :rouridthdt usually the sidegussets are sufficient for the purpose of freeing theintermediate-wall"member from restraint.

For 'a s'im'i'lar'reason the end gussets I4 may frequently be omitted;asshown 'i'n'Fig. '7, particularly if the flaps "3 'do hot'ei'itend'substant'ial- 1y below the longitud nal center "of theintermediate wall member 5- as shown in the various figures and astaught in 'prior Buxton Patent 2,'0 1',846. 'In either case the factthat thebights of the gussets, 'which"for'm-' the runways for the upperand lower edgesfo'f the intermediate member, widen in" eerie "as"the"'pbcket"fills further tends to increase the"freeddmdfmovement ofthe intermediate member. Also the-presence of the intermediate weir"member "inthe' bight of the gussettendsto hold the glfsset'in'sli'ape-- and 'prevent the pocket'fr'oin sa'gg'iiig-it 'acts to"stiffen and reenfor'ce theedge or the gusset.

The partition mriib'r 6, when used, divides the space 29 'ir'i-to *twocompartments. the outer compartment 30 being closed "bythe fia'ps "Icarried by the partitions; As shown 'inFigs. '6 and '7 the partitionmembers-ere normally positioned inthe outer bigh'ts of"the gussets' 8'and I I Pref erably" as is evident in the' 'several figures the partitionmembers: are made: sli'ghtly na'rrower than the panel members'with which theyf'are associa'ted. -As"perhaps b'st'shbwn in Figs. '6and 7 the partition '6 whilenarrow'er"than'its panel 2 I is wider thanthe distance between theinwardly extending folds bf "tl'ie f'giissets''8 and "H and its edges are normally fconfined between the 'bight of theouter gusset elements 'I'IJ andfI3 and the panel 2. By narrowing thepartition, the latter is per'niitted a limited 'swi' iig tow'ard andfrom the panelmember so that depending 'on'the extent to "which thepartition is narrowed, the comartment "3 0 shares'the "exeemsien"resulting from the dlltr'gli st 'el'lfii'its lfl' all'id I13. TheCoinbir'ied'capacities "of'the compartments 2; and30 are limited by theexpansion bf the gussets" and if the ibad piaeed or desl r'ed' tb beplaced'in corn- Dartment '30 "exceeds half d'f the combined capacity ofthe two pocktsfthe partition member will-be, or can be forced-hast theinwardly extending foldof tl'i'eigiisset'sdthat 'them'ajor portion of*the guss'et 'will operate in "compartment 30. In whatever*posi'tioiith'e partition is placed the gussets actto relievethejpires'sureo'f the con tents of the pdekets against the intermediatewall member and do this withoiit' interfering with the flXibi-lity'dfthe billfOld "ais a whblej The partition member 'm'ay of course 'be madesufficiently narrow to swing -freely between the opposite ets.

The structuressofar described will "forordinary purposes aiford adequaterelief to the intermediate wall memberil In's"omeinstances,

however, it is desirable to provide a gussetat the 1 When this isdesired the flap 3 cannot satisfactorily be secured to the panel 2-bythe lock-mem-' ber I9 as previously described except by gusseting themember [9 which would result in an undesirable thickening at the end ofthe billfold as well Y as an undesirable degree of looseness betweenflap 3 and the other elements of the billfold. These difficulties areovercome in the preferred construction of Figs. 8 and 9 where flap 3 isshown provided with a tongue-3i adapted, when the parts are set up asshown in Fig. 9, to extend through a slot 32 formed substantially at thejuncture of inner gusset element I5 and wall I. The tongue 3! is formedwith shoulders'33 which prevent inward movement of the tongue. Thetongue 3! is provided with one element of a snap fastener 34 adapted toengage another fastener element, not shown, on the opposite end portionof wall I, to hold the billfold in folded condition. As will be apparentfrom Fig. 9 the tongue 3! holds flap 3 in desired position while allthree gusset members 8, H, and M operate in the space between member 5and panel2."

Figs. 10, 11, and 12 show a modification of the 0 structure of Figs. 8and .9 to provide maximum relief of the intermediate'wall member in abillfold of maximum capacity. As shown in Fig. an additional gussetmember 35 comprising e1ements 35 and 37, is inserted between the end ofwall member I and element l5 of gusset M and slot 32 is positioned atthe juncture of element 31 of gusset 35 With'element E5 of gusset I4; Anadditional gusset member 38 comprising elements 39 and 40 is alsoinserted between .rear wall 1 and element 9 of gussett. The partsare-set up, in substantially the manner previously described, toposition gusset 38 and gusset 35 (together with the correspondinggussets at the other end of the billfold, not shown) in bill compartment28, as will be apparent from Figs. 11' and-12.- Gussets 8, H, and H! arepositioned in space'29 as shown in the latter figures.

tween gusset elements-I5 and 31 with'the upper edge of the intermediatewall member 5 riding in the bight between inner. gusset element [2 andflap 3 and its lower edge riding in the bight between gusset elements9-and"40fi(Fig. 12).

The pressure on both faces of the intermediate wall member, fromthe'load in" the bill compartment as well as from the load inpocketspace29. is thus relieved.

It will be understood that the depth of the gusset member may be varied,depending on the degree to which the billfold is to be loaded, andthatthe several arrangements shown may be variously combined with each otherand with conventional billfold structures to meet particular needs.

In the forms so far described the billfoldelements, with the exceptionof the intermediate wall member 5, are integrally connected together andin the finished billfold the parts are interlocked so as to avoid theneed forstitching-in holding billfold parts in operative relation. Myinvention i not to be understood as limited to such a construction andlends-itself to the use of stitching and in a manner in'which thestitches are hidden, In Figs. 13 to;'2Q,in clusive :Ihave As willlbeseenthe ends of flaps 3 are held by tongue 31' in the bight be- 6.illustrated one form of astitclied embodiment of my'invention. y

Figs-13 to 16 inclusive show the same elements which make up one end ofthe' previously described billfold as separat pieces,*the elementsbetween which the gussets are positioned carry-' ing one half of theadjacent gusset. Thus, rear wall'member l carries element 9, panel 2carries elements I0 and I3 and flap "3 carries element l2. End closuremember 4 and partition mem-- ber-6 are formed as separate pieces. Theseveral edges that are to be stitched together are pro-' vided withnarrow extensions '55 to receive the stitching.

:The rear wall 1, panel 2 andfiap'3 are stitchedtogether as shown at 56in Fig. 18. The flap 3 and panel 2 are then folded up as shown in Fig.19'bringing the extended edge'portions 55 of the rear' wall and flap 3into superposed relation. As clearly shown in Fig. 19 the sewing edge 55ofpartition member 6. is placed over'the super-- posed sewing edges. ofwall I and flap 3 and the sewing edge of member 4 is placed beneath thesewing edge of the rear wall and all are stitched together by a singleline of stitching-51. The partition member 6 is then inserted throughthe tube formed between the rear wall 1 and panel Zto draw the stitchedconnection into' the tube as shown in Fig; 20. End member 4 is thenfolded-- onto panel 2 as shown in the latter figure and interlocked aspreviously described. Intermediate member 5 may be inserted at anyconvenient step in setting up the billfold as-when the parts are in thecondition shown in Fig.19:or after the billfold is otherwise completed.As Will be obvious" all of the stitches lie within the space: betweenthe panel member 2 and the intermediatewall member 5 and are therebycompletely hidden.

It will be understood that the several arrangements shown may bevariouslytcombined .to meet:

specific needs. In each casethepositioningof the" upper and lower edgesof the intermediate member in bights of the gussets provide expansibleguideways for said member which guideways expand to decrease the grip ofthe guideways as the pocket space between the intermediatewall memberand the panel is loaded. Also in each case the positioning of inwardlyextending gusset elements in the space between the intermediate memberand the panel, whether a partition member is present or not, acts torelease the direct pressure of the load inthe pocket against the outerface of the intermediate member. These desired objectives and advantagestogether with an increase in the capacity of the billfold are obtainedwithout substantially impairing the general flexibility of the structureas a whole."

I claim:

1. In a billfold having a rear Wall and a-front 1 wall assemblyproviding a bill compartment be outer end edge of saidflap and theadjacent end edge of the rear wall being respectively providedwithsewing extensions superposed one on the other, an end closure memberhaving a sewing: extension, said last named extension being super posedon the sewing extension of the rear wall on the opposite side from thesewing extension of-the flap, the free edges of the three extensionssubstantially coinciding, stitches connecting the-so superposedsewing'extensions, said stitches passing through the sewing extensionsonly, and

means connecting the end closure member to the buterf-facepf tthepanelmember to elese :the:

end of the billfold and position the sewing-extensions;; andtheqstitches connecting Y. them,= inwardlyz-of the bil-lfold,

1. 2 the billfoldhaying a rear wall'and-a front wallassembly-providing'a bill compartment between them, the front wall assembly includingappa-nel member having a flap said flap extending downwardly: into thebill compartment, and an intermediate wall member the outerend edgeofe-said flap andtheadjacent end edge of the rearv wa-l-l beingrespectWely-fprovided-withsewing extensions superposedsone on the other,an end. closure member having a sewing extension,"said last :n'amed:extensionpbeing superposed on the sewing-extension of the rear wall'onthe opposite sidefromvthe sewingextension of the flap, the free" edges:of the :three extensions substantially coinciding, "a partition memberhaving an .edge superposedon'the said extensions on'the side oppositethe end closure member withthe body ofith'eopartitidnumember extendingaway from the "free-z'ed'gesmf :Jsaid extensions, stitches con nectingsaid 1' extensions and the. superposed edge of 'the partition membertogether, said stitches I passing: through:the "sewing extensions only,and means con-netting the end "closure member to the outer -face' o'fthe-panel'fm'emberto close the end oftherbillfold=andposition the sewingextensions, and: the stitcheszcohnecting. them'inward'ly of thebil'lfold 'with'fthe partition member extendin inward-1y fbetween theintermediate wall member and the panel "member. y

-3 Inzra): bill f'oldr hating a rear wall and a t eat walli'as'semblyiprovidingfa bill compartment be tween'i-them, "saidasse'mbly including a panel member and 'a.--membe'r inter m'edia'te the--panel member and the "rear wall, the panel member havinga'flap-extending downwardly into "the bill compartment between the rearwall and said intermediate member; an inwardly extending gusset :connctin'g the upper "edge of the panel member to sa/id nap, an inulardl'yextending gus-' set connectingfthe l'owe'r edge of the panel-member .to"1 the rear wall, 'the intermediate member bein'gfliriterloeke'd *tliithsaid flap to s'li'dably i hold the 'upp'er and lower edges of theintermediate member, respeetively; in the'bight between thefirstfgusset'andthe fiap and the bi'g'ht between the second gusset andthe'rea'r wall, and an end member iexterfding 'frdm the I end edge' ofthe rear wall and folded ever onto thepa'nel member'andinterlo'ckedthe'rewith to close the outer-end of the bill Compartmehtand the outewma f the pocket:- formed-between the intermediate memberand th'eqi ahel aindtb hbld the guSs'ets --in -"Sai"cl"last--namedvpocket -and limiting the dg'ree of expansion allowed the outerends of the gus's'et's.

a liil'lfdtd having a. rear wall and a f'ront wall a'ssenribhiproviding. a bill compar'tn'ient be tween ithe'm' "said .r'assemblyincluding a panel member :and; a %member intermediate the panelmember'and thefrear wall;rthe panel member having afiap extendingdownwardly into the 'bill' compartment'between the 'r'ea'rwall and saidintermediate member; :an inwardly extending 'gusserreonnecting the upperedge of 'the panel memher :to said -flap, an inwardly extending "gussetconnecting the loweredgeiofthe panel member to -the rear :wall, theintermediate member beingvinterlocked 'withsaid flapto slidably hold"the upper. and-lowerwedges ofzthe-inte'rmediate member, rrespectivelyinwthe :bight between the first gusset and :the r-flap and the bightbetween the sec'ond lgusset and the rear wall, 'arpartition member-extending strom -the- .-outer end edge-of the panelimembertand.foldedover the inner face of the, panel member with its :long-itudinal edgesengaged in the bights between the gussets and the panel member, and anend member extending from the end edge of therear wall and folded overonto the panel -member and interlocked therewith to close the outerend'of the bill compartment and the *outerend of the pocket formedbetween the intermediate member and the panel and to, hold the ,gussetsin said last-named pocket and limiting the degree of expansion allowedthe outer ends of the gusset.

"5., In a billfold having-a rearwall and a front wall assembly providinga bill compartment between them, said 'assembly'in'cluding a :panelmember and a member-intermediate the panel member-and the rear wall, thepanel member having a flapext'endi-ng downwardly into the billcompartment between the rearwall and said intermediate member; aninwardly extending gusset connecting-the upper edge of-the panel memberto said flap; an inwardly exten'ding gusset connecting thello'wer edgeofthe panel member to the rear wall, the intermediate member beinginterlocked with said flap to-Jslidably hold the upper and lower edgesofthe intermediate member, respectively, inlth'e =bight between the firstgusset and the flap and the *bight between the second gusset and therear wall, an end. member extending from the end edge of the rear walland folded over ontoi'the 'panel "member and interlocked'there'with toclose the 'outerend-of the bill compartment and theiouter end of thepocket formed "between the intermedi'atem'ember and the panel, saidendimeniber'being connected to therear wall by an inwardly-extendinggusset and means including an interlocking-tongue extending from the andedge of "said flap for holding the fiap'and the intermediate'member ina'bight of the lastt-namedgusset.

6. A billfold as in claim 5 in which said tongue is interlocked-tothe'outer face of the panel memher to position-the flap and'intermediate member in that bight'of 1 the ejnd'g'usset" which isadjacent fthe "panel member, and position the end gusset in" the 'billcompartment.

'7. Abillfoldas'in olaimb inwh'ich said tongue is interlocked in thatbig-htof the end gusset which isadja'cent'tI'Ie rearwall to position theflap andiritermediate 'merrlber in the last-named bight and positiontheend gusset in the pocket between the intermediate member and thepanel member."

DOUGLAS J. BROUGI-ITON.

REFERENCES 'CITED' The f'llowi'ng 'rferenoe's are of record in the fileof this patent:

